Gas lighter



`lune 13, 1939. jl PRENDES 2,162,587

GAS LIGHTER Filed Feb. 26, 1957 IIID) "ly/@fsw INVENTOR ATTORNEY JoAQumA Pa-.unas f Junels, 1939. J, PRENDES 2,162,587

GAS LIGHTER Filed Feb. 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JoAqumA DRENDES ATTORN EY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a gas lighter.

The invention has for an object the construction of a gas lighter which is characterized by 5 a body comprising a base plate and a cover, and an insulation block mounted Within the body and having a socket member supporting a plug which extends out from the cover so as to be readily removable.

l The invention proposes mounting a resistance within the plug and arranging suitable electrical connections on the base plate to provide a circuit which includes th-e resistance. Furthermore, it is contemplated to connect the negative of a i household power circuit to the circuit just mentioned and to continue this circuit to an ignition element.

It is proposed to construct the ignition element ci a conductor With a handle of insulated material, so that it may be handled. Then when the conductor is touched to a gas range or other similar contrivance it is possible to produce sparks to ignite the gas.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to arrange the socket in the insulation block in a manner so that it is movable and permits the plug to be depressed. An arrangement is then proposed to force the plug back to its initial position after a pre-determined interval of time and to use this construction to automatically break a circuit through the gas lighter, a short interval of time after the plug is depressed. This is a safeguard to prevent accidental shocking of people.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features oi the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a gas .lighter constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the plug shown in Fig. 3 removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modication of the invention. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on 5 the line Bfii of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective View showing another modiiied form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The gas lighter includes a body I0 consisting of a base plate I |12L and a cover IIJb. An insulation blocl; II is mounted Within the body and particularly on the base plate Illa. This insulaif tion block has a socket member I2 which includes an end contact I2a and a shell contact I2b. A plug I3 is adapted to threadedly engage the shell contact I2]D and extends out through an opening IIIc formed in the front wall of the cover Ib. I" The plug I3 has a shell contact I3b and an end Contact I3a engageable respectively with the shell and end contacts of the socket member in the insulation block. A conductor ignition element I5 has a handle I6 of insulation material and is 20 connected in a circuit with a conventional plug I'I adapted to be plugged into the plug of a household electric circuit.

The plug I'I has a positive contract IIa and a negative contact I'Ib. The lead I'Iaa from the 25 positive contact is taped up by a strip of tape I8 engaged around the insulation cover of a cable I9 which houses the leads. The negative lead I'Ibb is connected with a terminal 20 mounted on the insulation block II. This terminal con- 3o nects with a lead 2I which connects with the end Contact I2a.

The plug I3 h-as a central opening in which there is a resistance coil 23. This resistance coil connects with an end contact 24 in intimate con- 35 tact with the end contact I3a. The other end 23a of the resistance coil connects with the shell contact I3b. A cap 25 is mounted across the top of the plug I3 and clamps down a mica disc 26 through which the end of the coil I3 may be 40 seen.

The shell contact I2b is connected with a lead 21 which connects with a terminal 28 mounted on the insulation block II. This terminal 28 connects with the negative lead 29 of a cable 30. 45

The positive lead 3| of this cable is taped down at its ends by strips of tape 32 and 33 so that it is inoperative. The negative lead 29 at the point 29' within the free end of the handle r I6 connects with the ignition element I5. d

The ignition block II has a iiat bottom portion I Ia, a central cylindrical portion I Ib, and end channel portions IIC. Within the end channel portions Iic the terminals 20 and 28 respectively 55 are mounted. The contact shell I2b is cemented to the cylindrical portion IIb.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modification of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the previous form in the fact that the plug I3' is depressible and controls contact between the end contact I3a of the plug and the end contact I2EL of the socket. More specifically, the plug I3 has a contact shell I3b which is screwed into the socket shell I2bb. The socket shell is made from two sections. There is the section I2bb which is movable, and the stationary section I2 which is cemented into the cylindrical portion I Ib of the insulation block.

The stationary section I2 connects with an annular channel shaped member 35 in which an annular member 36 slidably engages. This annular member 36 is fixed to the lower edge of the section I2bb. Diaphragm elements 31 and 38 are connected with the sides of the member 36 and with the sides of the channel 35 and serve to hermetically encase the member 36 within the channel 35.

Several springs 39 are mounted within the annular channel member 35 and act against the bottom edge of the annular member 36 to normally urge it upwards, A vent 40 connects with the area within the channel 35 and beneath the member 36. This vent All is controlled by a flexible Valve element AI which normally extends over and covers it. The arrangement is such that when the member 36 is pressed downwards the flexible valve element 4I opens to allow discharge of air. But when the member 36 is released the valve element 4I closes and the member 46 can rise only as the air from the atmosphere seeps into the area beneath the member 36 and within the channel 35. l

vThe terminal 2i] is connected by a lead 2l to the end contact IZB. This lead 2I has a flexible end portion 2i which normally holds the end contact I2'a slightly raised. It may be depressed when the plug I3' is depressed and will follow up the raising action of the plug for a certain distance. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and similar parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With respect to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 there is a continuous circuit from the negative terminal of the plug Il to the ignition element I5. This circuit passes through the resistance coil 23. To use the lighter it is merelyA necessary that the ignition element I5 be touched against the gas range burner and sparks which will thus be produced will ignite the gas. When the lighter l5 is not used it is stored upon a hook 45 which is mounted on the side of the body I0 of the gas lighter.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it is necessary that the plug I3' be first pressed down before the ignition element I5 may operate. When the plug I3 is depressed the end contacts I2a and I3EL will touch each other. Ihe circuit is now closed and will remain closed until the plug I3 moves back to its raised position. The springs 39 will so move the plug. It is necessary that air seep in through the vent 4I! to permit the springs 39 to function.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 9 another modication of the invention has been disclosed in which the plug 53 may be pulled out of the body 50 which consists of a base plate 56a and a cover 50". The cover 5I)b is secured to a base plate 5I)a by prongs 50bb and is formed with a top opening 50e. A cover plate 50 ts over this opening and is provided with a handle 50d. A pair of supporting rods 50' of insulation material, are secured on the inner face of cover plate 5I)c and their free ends are engaged in between forked ends of and secured to the forward free ends 53 of resistance coil 53.

A pair of spring clips 2l' and 2l are secured to insulation block 5I which is mounted on base plate 56a. The free ends of these clips are adapted to resiliently hold the resistance coil 53'.

The lead I9lo of cable I9 is connected to terminal 20 on one of the clips ZI' and the other lead I9a of cable I9 is connected to an insulated screw 52 on the base plate 50a. The other clip 21' is provided with terminal 28'. The lead 29 of cable 30 connects to terminal 2B' and the other lead 30a of cable 30 connects to insulated screw 54.

This arrangement permits the removal of resistance coil 53 by cover handle 50d through 5|)e of the cover.Y In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form, and the various similar parts may be recognized by similar indicating numerals.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the preferred forms and identical parts may be recognized by the same reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, a plug, a contact below said plug, a stationary socket section having an annular channel on the bottom thereof, a movable socket section for supporting said plug coaxially within said stationary socket section, an annular member slidably mounted Within said channel and xedly attached to the bottom of said movable socket section and being movable towards said Contact, a Contact member on said plug and movable with said plug to engage said contact when said annular member is moved in towards said contact, a resilient means urging said annular member into an extended position, diaphragm elements having one of their edges attached to said annular member and the other of their edges attached to the sides of said channel for hermetically encasing the annular member within said channel, a vent and a valve for permitting the air to easily escape from said channel when said annular member is .being moved toward said contact and for limiting the entrance of air to said channel when said resilient means is urging said annular member back to its normal position to retard the return movement, and said annular channel being positioned around said plug and between said contact and the top of said plug,

2. In a device of the class described, a plug, a contact below said plug, a stationary socket section having an annularchannel on the bottom thereof, a movable socket section for supporting said plug coaxially Within said stationary socket section, an annular member slidably mounted within said channel and fiXedly attached to the bottom of said movable socket section and being movable towards said contact, a contact member on said plug and movable with said plug to engage said contact when said annular member is moved in towards said contact, a resilient means urging said annular member into an extended position, diaphragm elements having one of their edges attached to said annular member and the other of their edges attached to the sides of said channel for hermetically encasing the annular member Within said channel, a vent and a valve for permitting the air to easily escape from said channel when said annular member is being moved toward said contact and for limiting the entrance of air to said channel when said resilient means is urging said annular member back to its normal position to retard the return movement, and said annular channel being positioned around said plug and between said contact and the top of said plug, said resilient means, comprising springs operating between the bottom of said annular member and the base wall of said channel.

3. In a device of the class described, a plug, a contact below said plug, a stationary socket section having an annular channel on the bottom thereof, a movable socket section for supporting said plug coaXially within said stationary socket section, an annular member slidably mounted within said channel and xedly attached to the bottom of said movable socket section and being movable towards said contact, a contact member on said plug and movable with said plug to engage said contact when said annular member is moved in towards said contact, a resilient means urging said annular member into an extended position, diaphragm elements having one of their edges attached to said annular member and the other of their edges attached to the sides of said channel for hermetically encasing the annular member within said channel, a vent and a valve Ior permitting the air to easily escape from said channel when said annular member is being moved toward said contact and for limiting the entrance of air to said channel when said resilient means is urging said annular member back to its normal position to retard the return movement, and said annular channel being positioned around said plug and between said contact and the top of said plug, said valve, comprising a short piece of flexible material extendable across said vent when said annular member is returning to its normal position.

J OAQUINA PRENDES. 

